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Fire that killed four children was in housing association home
A house wrecked by a fire that killed four young children in Stafford this week belongs to a housing association, it has emerged.
Emergency services were called to the house – owned by Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) – at 2.39am on Tuesday.
Firefighters and police are still investigating how the blaze started and spread as of Wednesday afternoon and there has not been any indication of wrongdoing by SARH.
Staffordshire Police named the children killed as Riley Holt, aged eight, Keegan Unitt, aged six, Tilly Rose Unitt, aged four, and Olly Unitt, aged three.
A toddler and two adults – a woman aged 24 and a man aged 28 – escaped the fire and were taken to hospital, but do not have life-threatening injuries.
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In a statement released yesterday, 6,000-home SARH said: “SARH is incredibly saddened to hear about the tragic fire at one of our properties in Stafford this morning.
“Deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the family. SARH is assisting the police and fire service and is here to support anyone who needs our help.
“If anyone has any concerns, they should contact SARH on 0800 111 4554.”
Rob Barber, deputy chief fire officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said in a statement yesterday: “Firstly I would like to pass on my condolences to the family and friends of those affected by this incident. Three fire appliances were mobilised and the first appliance arrived in seven minutes. In addition an aerial ladder platform was also mobilised.
“When they arrived crews were faced with a fully developed fire on the first floor of the end terrace property. One male, one female and a baby had escaped from the property prior to our arrival via a first-floor window.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property in order to search for the other family members. Our firefighters were faced with very difficult conditions within the property due to the severity of the fire.
“I can sadly confirm that the bodies of four young children were located within the property by fire and rescue personnel.”
In a statement this morning, Staffordshire Police said investigations into the fire are likely to last for the next few days.
